Lee (front, seated second left), flanked by Hii on his left and Miri Resident Sherrina Hussaini, in a photocall with other members of the State Tourism Coordination Committee.
MIRI: Sarawak is expected to register 4.6 million tourists mainly from China in 2019, which has been declared ‘Visit Sarawak Year (VSY)’.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said to achieve the target, various measures would be undertaken next year.
They included getting all existing tourism-related infrastructure in tip-top condition so that tourists would have a good impression on Sarawak, and help to promote it the world over.
“We are getting all the divisional tourism taskforce committees, headed by the respective Residents to compile tourist attractions, events and facilities in their divisions. These facilities must not only be in good condition but must be beautiful and clean,” Lee told reporters here yesterday after chairing the Sarawak Tourism Coordination Committee meeting.
The meeting was attended by permanent secretary to the ministry, Hii Chang Kee, all Residents and heads of relevant government and private agencies.
Lee added that cooperation would also be sought from the various tourism stakeholders including local councils, banks, airlines, hotels, restaurants and non-governmental organisations.
“For example, as we are focusing on China’s advanced digital payment system, we will work with Bank Negara Malaysia and China National Bank on how to facilitate the payment system in Sarawak.”
Lee said Sarawak recorded over 16 per cent increase in tourist arrivals from China and Singapore during the first half of this year.
Tourist arrivals from China rose to 22,626 in the period under review this year from 19,414 last year, while that from Singapore was 22,711 this year from 19,513 in the corresponding period last year.
Similarly, during the same period, Lee said Miri Airport had also recorded an increase in arrivals from 35,393 last year to 48,806 this year.
He is confident that with two direct international flights from Miri to Singapore and Pontianak and Miri/Kuching/Singapore, more tourists are expected to come to Sarawak, especially to Miri, next year and beyond.
He added the direct AirAsia flights from Kuching to Shenzhen and Quanzhou, too would boost tourist arrivals from China.
On another matter, Lee said Sarawak would continue to stage major tourist-puller events like the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), Borneo Jazz Festival, Sarawak Regatta and International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament.
The Sarawak government is encouraging the private sector and NGOs to organise international level events next, assuring that the ministry would help them. However, they need to notify the ministry by the end of August (this month).